Tag: American history
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Ghosts of the Orphanage by Christine Kenneally
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Ghosts of the Orphanage: “Orphanage” is a super misleading term. Quick synopsis: The history of abuse at St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Vermont. Fact for Non-History People: Most children in orphanages WERE NOT ORPHANS. Usually, one, if NOT BOTH, parents were still alive. Fact for History Nerds: Efforts by the Catholic Church…
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Africatown by Nick Tabor
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Africatown: Apparently, slavery wasn’t bad enough, so the discrimination just kept going. Quick synopsis: The story of the last slave ship to land in America and the fate of the people when slavery ended. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: In 1850, cotton consumption worldwide was 1.5 billion pounds. By 1859,…
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Our Man in Tokyo by Steve Kemper
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Our Man in Tokyo: Ohhhhh, so that’s why Pearl Harbor happened. Quick synopsis: The story of how Japan ultimately chose to attack the U.S. from the perspective of the American ambassador, Joseph Grew. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The Japanese emperor was seen as infallible, so he was never allowed…
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Walk Through Fire by Yasmine Ali
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Walk Through Fire: Don’t go look at train derailments! Quick synopsis: The story of the Waverly Train Disaster of 1978. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The explosion was so powerful that a tank pipe was thrown over 400 yards. Fun Fact for History Nerds: The medical examiner for the disaster…
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The Confidante by Christopher Gorham
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Confidante: I don’t know what she said in those meetings, but it worked. Quick synopsis: The story of Anna Marie Rosenberg who was known as the most important woman in the U.S. government during World War II and beyond. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: To keep up morale during…
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Vanished in Vermillion by Lou Raguse
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Vanished in Vermillion: Holy bad policing, Batman! Quick synopsis: The story of the 1971 disappearance of Pam Jackson and Sherri Miller in South Dakota. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: South Dakota has more shoreline than Florida. Fun Fact for History Nerds: South Dakota is home to less than 1 million…
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Revolutionary Roads by Bob Thompson
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Revolutionary Roads: American Revolution ROAD TRIP! Quick synopsis: A literal walk-through of major places during the American Revolution. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Every American knows Lexington and Concord, but the most deaths on the day the Revolution started was in Menotomy (now Arlington), Massachusetts. Fun Fact for History Nerds:…
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The Real-Life Murder Clubs by Nicola Stow
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Real-Life Murder Clubs: Murder solving in your spare time! Quick synopsis: A collection of stories about crime solvers who don’t get paid for it. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: I don’t want to give anything away so here’s a random fact: there are over 28,000 private investigators in the…
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Heaven on the Hudson by Stephanie Azzarone
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Heaven on the Hudson: At one point, New York City wasn’t all potholes. Quick synopsis: The story of how Riverside Park and Riverside Drive came to be in New York City. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Edgar Allan Poe wrote “The Raven” while staying in a farmhouse on 84th Street.…